Page 3 - September 2023 - Truth & Tidings

ho am I? That question can now authors tell us that we are saints, servants
be answered in dozens of ways, and sons of God. Interestingly, it was likely
Wall of them encouraging, so long unbelievers who gave us yet another title
as we have personally trusted Christ as – Christians (Act 11:26), meaning “Christ’s
Savior. But before we look at the question, ones.”
“Who am I?” let’s step back to consider While this is not an exhaustive list, each
the question, “Who was I?” What does the of the above metaphors will be explained
Bible say about us before we came to faith in detail in the pages which follow in this
in Christ? We were ungodly. We were lost. special issue of Truth & Tidings devoted to
We were blind. We were dead. We were answering the question, “Who am I?” now
hopeless. And the adjectives could go on that I have become a believer in the Lord
and on. But even though Scripture uses Jesus Christ.
many adjectives to describe who we were, The world and the devil will tell you
metaphors are not so plentiful. Unbelievers
are referred to as sheep going astray and as that you are many things – guilty, a failure,
children of disobedience/wrath, but there naïve, hateful, bigoted. Don’t believe their
are not many more. Yet the metaphors that descriptions. Let the pages of your Bible tell
you who you are and respond accordingly.
describe us after the most welcome inva-
sion occurred in our lives abound – God’s It was John Newton who said, “I am not
grace came in and changed everything. what I might be; I am not what I ought to
Fascinating pictures of who we are in be; I am not what I wish to be; I am not what
Christ leap bountifully from the pages of I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what
the New Testament. I once was, and I can say with the great
The Lord Jesus describes us as the salt of apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I
the earth and the light of the world in the am.’” The grace of God has changed ev-
Sermon on the Mount. In His Upper Room erything, including who we are. “So then,
Discourse, He refers to us as His friends as if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
well as branches in a vine, Himself being what is old has passed away – look, what is
the True Vine. And in Acts 1:8, He says new has come!” (2Co 5:17 NET). And what
that we are His witnesses. The apostle Paul is new is beautiful!
informs us in his letters that we are ambas- Who are you? If you’re a Christian, keep
sadors for Christ, athletes and soldiers, reading and you’ll find out. If you’re not,
members of Christ’s body and heirs of God. please read the back cover article on what a
Peter adds to our growing list, stating that Christian is and put your trust in the Lord
we are a kingdom of priests as well as liv- Jesus. If you do so, you too will become a
ing stones. And multiple New Testament new creation.

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